Engineer, Performance

AES•Louisville, CO

3d•$87,000 - $104,550•Hybrid

About The Position

AES Clean Energy (CE) is seeking a Performance Engineer to support the O&M Engineering team by analyzing and optimizing the performance of our rapidly growing portfolio of photovoltaic and battery storage projects. This role is pivotal in ensuring our assets operate above industry standards for reliability, safety, and performance. The ideal candidate is a self-starter with the experience and drive to implement programs and processes that ensure reliable, safe, and optimal generation. A day in the life of an AES CE Performance Engineer will include, but is not limited to: Operations Analyze operational performance and trends of solar plus storage sites. Lead execution of performance tests in accordance with production and capacity commitments. Remotely investigate site performance and review system design to identify root causes of lost energy. Configure and validate performance alerts in DAS. Review third-party reporting to inform performance analysis. Support the transition from projects under construction to operating assets. Troubleshoot systems in operation and review performance data to identify issues. Perform or review capacity and performance ratio tests for projects in operation. Review production estimates and meteorological data sources for accuracy. Measure fleet performance against established KPIs and compare actual to forecasted results. Produce monthly, quarterly, and annual performance reports with detailed variance analysis. Seek and evaluate proposals for analysis services and consultants as needed. Perform job safety assessments and safety walks to identify job-site hazard. Collaboration Coordinate with field service and asset management teams to improve site performance. Collaborate with Operations and Engineering teams to identify underperformance and recommend improvements. “Close the loop” between Operations and Engineering by recording and communicating issues that can be mitigated through better design. Utilize technology such as drones, LiDAR, thermal imaging, and 3D modeling to reduce field labor and improve operational performance. Lead operations engineering coordination with field service and asset management teams. Growth and Leadership Participate in AES CE’s growth planning process by contributing to process improvement task forces and strategic planning activities. Improve and develop processes for the execution of safe, quality, and high-performance projects. Educate the team on changing trends in technology, best practices, and safety. The Performance Engineer supports a larger operations team and serves as the subject matter expert for technical and engineering matters related to the overall performance of photovoltaic plants and grid-scale battery storage systems. Excellent communication, task management, and planning skills are needed, in addition to technical breadth. While performance analysis is the primary qualification, the role will require the review of information related to all practical elements of photovoltaic and battery system design. The successful applicant, while not an expert, will be comfortable with high-level review of all elements of practical system design. The position may include up to 10-15% travel to project locations and partner offices.

Requirements

Undergraduate degree in Engineering or equivalent technical field.
Strong understanding of industry trends in production tools and processes.
Proficiency with advanced analysis and database tools for development of metrics and dashboards.
Ability to work effectively with Microsoft software programs, including but not limited to Excel, Outlook, Word, and PowerPoint.
Demonstrated ability to read and comprehend equipment/facility schematics.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
High degree of commitment to a quality safety culture and an incident-free work environment.
Willingness to travel within the U.S. to support company’s portfolio of PV solar/BESS assets.
Personal values consistent with those of the AES Corporation: Safety, Integrity, Excellence, Agility, and Fun.

Nice To Haves

PE qualifications, or on track to become qualified.
Master’s degree in Engineering.
Experience with PV and Battery Energy Storage System design and interconnection.
Proficiency with PowerBI, machine learning, or advanced analysis tools.
Professional experience in engineering with focus on measuring and maintaining system performance.
Experience with Data Acquisition and SCADA systems.
Spanish language skills.

Responsibilities

Analyze operational performance and trends of solar plus storage sites.
Lead execution of performance tests in accordance with production and capacity commitments.
Remotely investigate site performance and review system design to identify root causes of lost energy.
Configure and validate performance alerts in DAS.
Review third-party reporting to inform performance analysis.
Support the transition from projects under construction to operating assets.
Troubleshoot systems in operation and review performance data to identify issues.
Perform or review capacity and performance ratio tests for projects in operation.
Review production estimates and meteorological data sources for accuracy.
Measure fleet performance against established KPIs and compare actual to forecasted results.
Produce monthly, quarterly, and annual performance reports with detailed variance analysis.
Seek and evaluate proposals for analysis services and consultants as needed.
Perform job safety assessments and safety walks to identify job-site hazard.
Coordinate with field service and asset management teams to improve site performance.
Collaborate with Operations and Engineering teams to identify underperformance and recommend improvements.
“Close the loop” between Operations and Engineering by recording and communicating issues that can be mitigated through better design.
Utilize technology such as drones, LiDAR, thermal imaging, and 3D modeling to reduce field labor and improve operational performance.
Lead operations engineering coordination with field service and asset management teams.
Participate in AES CE’s growth planning process by contributing to process improvement task forces and strategic planning activities.
Improve and develop processes for the execution of safe, quality, and high-performance projects.
Educate the team on changing trends in technology, best practices, and safety.